Startup Coaches

Anderson Center

The Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation offers targeted, high-impact coaching to all entrepreneurs across UT’s campus. Our Startup Coach program (formerly the Entrepreneur-in-Residence, or EIR, program) features a diverse team of industry experts to offer tailored guidance that precisely addresses each startup’s unique challenges. Startup Coaches interact with students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners, offering strategic advising, introductions and accountability.

Each Startup Coach has a proven track record of entrepreneurial success and a commitment to passing on their knowledge to future generations of entrepreneurs. Whether you just came up with your million-dollar idea, you need help thinking through your business development strategies or you want to make sure you’re ready to take your product to market, our team of Startup Coaches can help!

Sign up for your free one-on-one coaching session using the button below or email ACEI@utk.edu for more information.

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Anderson Center

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David Youngblood

Startup Coach

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Anderson Center

Startup Testimonials

Javonte’ Harding

N.R.M.L. Apparel

“I got involved with the Anderson Center through the Thornton Athletic Center, where I was approached to participate in SEC Start Up. They’ve been incredibly helpful in guiding me through the process, from creating my first-ever elevator pitch to providing valuable resources for producing my pitch video.”

Alexis Schnittka

Athlete Meditations

“The Anderson Center has helped me in so many ways. I think most importantly is the support that I’ve gotten from the people around me, like the Startup Coaches that I have meetings with, and the financial support [from the Graves Business Plan Competition]. All of it has helped me grow my business in ways that I had never imagined.”